16 students enthusiastic about physics experienced the connection of academic education and practical experience in the work life. The study group “Hardware AG” from Staufen under the direction of Winfried Sturm, accepted an invitation of the Hellma Analytics company. Hellma Analytics is the global market leader for optical components made of glass and quartz glass in spectrophotometry. This is an important analytical technique that is used e.g. for monitoring the quality of products in the pharmaceutical industry, food manufacturing as well as the chemical industry and the environmental sector.

Light, light rays and spectroscopy

Just as versatile as the areas of application was Winfried Sturm’s lesson about light, light rays and spectroscopy. Following the lesson, the students had the opportunity to visit the modern production line of high-precision parts. The students were amazed about the extremely high precision of the products, which have to be manufactured involving a significant amount of manual work. E.g. the planeness of surfaces is less than a thousandth millimetre – i.e. 50 times less than the thickness of a human hair.

Practical part

Following the tour, the practical part in the Hellma Analytics’ showroom started. Here the students were able to broaden their previously acquired knowledge by means of experiment set-ups and practical exercises. “Responsibility is an essential element of our company philosophy”, Jürgen Schuy, Head of Marketing at Hellma Analytics, says. “We also like to bear responsibility for the education and further training of young people”, Jürgen Schuy adds. The students clearly liked it very much and headed home happy and full of new impressions.

Müllheim, 22. November 2011. Markus Riegger has officially assumed the position of Head of Sales at Hellma Analytics with effect from November. His predecessor Karl-Ernst Kaiser retired after 45 years with the company. Markus Riegger has already more than 20 years of sales experience with well known measurement and medical technology companies. Markus Riegger, a qualified industrial engineer developed extensive industry and marketing expertise – both in Germany as well as worldwide. His key duties will include the organisation and further development of the sales structure. In addition, he is also responsible for the conception, planning and realisation of sales activities.
“With our product portfolio and services we are a reliable and skilled partner for all spectrophotometer manufacturers. In addition to this, we will become even more productive in the future due to the current expansion of production and innovative products,” commented Markus Riegger.
In his position as Head of Sales, Markus Riegger is responsible for positioning the company, as well as its 11 subsidiaries and five product ranges, with manufacturers, laboratory dealers and end users. The company’s market lead should also be developed further and international market penetration increased. To help realise this, Markus Riegger has a team of 23 marketing, sales and logistics specialists.

Müllheim, 19. September 2011 – Impressive growth figures, a high degree of innovative strength and social commitment. For the fifteenth time, auditors and consultants Ernst & Young have voted the best mid-sized companies in Germany. After a strict selection procedure of several rounds, 65 companies out of 300 nominees have managed to get into the final of the contest “Entrepreneur of 2011” including also the Hellma Group from Müllheim. “I’m very pleased about this success to which each individual Hellma employee has actively contributed,“ said Lutz Mayer, Managing Director of the Hellma Group, about the company reaching the final.

With its challenging criteria and high-ranking jury, the entrepreneur prize has achieved considerable standing for already many years. The 65 finalists are characterised by their exceptional innovative strength which is thanks to the great dedication of their qualified and highly motivated employees. Furthermore, they also have effective organisational structures with short decision-making paths which enable them to respond flexibly to changing market conditions. On 23. September a winner will be chosen from each of the five categories – Industry, Trade, Services, Information and Communication Technology / Media and Start-up – and announced and honoured at the Alte Oper Frankfurt in front of illustrious guests.

Innovation as the key to success

The companies in the final also have considerable growth figures and represent all important sectors. They achieve an average turnover of 86 million euros a year and employ an average of 500 employees. In 2010 they recruited 2,600 new staff. In 2010 the Hellma Group acquired the calcium fluoride production from Schott Lithotec in Jena. According to own company information, the Hellma Group increased its turnover in 2010 by 56 per cent as well as employee number by 19 per cent to 360 employees.

An important success factor of this year’s finalists is also their ability to quickly respond to changing market conditions with innovative products and services. They invest above average sums in innovations which enables them to quickly bring new developments onto the market and challenge growing consolidation in many sectors. According to the entrepreneurs, this successful realisation of innovations is thanks to their qualified and committed employees. Hereby the training and further training of employees plays a decisive role. The full list of the 65 finalists can be seen on www.entrepreneur-des-jahres.de

The success story began 20 years ago as a spin-off of Jenoptik Carl Zeiss GmbH. The emerging company Hellma Optik GmbH started with 20 employees and supplied its first customers with precision optics and cells. Since then, several things have changed. In 1997, the relocation into the specially constructed building in Jena took place. The number of employees had meanwhile risen to 24, as well as the number of customers. The production area was approx. 1,000 m2. Hellma Optics responded to the dynamic requirements of the most important target sectors laser technology and photonics with constant capacity expansions and continuous growth. Today, 75 people are employed – they ensure Hellma Optics’s success with their high degree of experience. As a specialized manufacturer of cylinder, toric and flat optics of highest quality, Hellma Optics produces according to individual requests. “Business is getting more and more international. By now, renowned customers all over the world appreciate the high level of specialisation and quality and have confidence in the high-precision optics from our company” Ulf Hallmeyer, Managing Director of Hellma Optics, says. In 1998, he took over from his father and will now strategically develop the company further. Well-directed process optimisation, modern technology standards and continuous education and advanced training guarantee high product quality. Consistent innovation and substantial investments create new jobs and ensure economic success.

In 2010, the company generated a turnover of € 8.2m. For 2011 and 2012, a turnover of € 10m will be estimated. Hellma Optics is also supported by the competence of the Hellma Group regarding highest precision in glass, quartz glass and calcium fluoride. Hellma Materials in Jena and Hellma Analytics in Müllheim also belong to the Hellma Group. Altogether, more than 350 employees work for the Hellma Group. In 2011, the Hellma Group will generate an overall turnover of more than € 40 million. It has its own subsidiaries in 13 countries and representations in over 50 other countries.

FT-NIR Spectroscopy as PAT

PAT has already been used in practice in the automobile industry for many years: A 100 % process validation and control system as the basis for process quality control and cost effectiveness. In the meantime, it is no different in the chemical industry. It is just that here the processes are not large open production lines, but are often sited within difficult to access processing tanks, sometimes under extremely high pressure and temperature conditions and often using aggressive media. Classical testing methods, operating procedures, or general tools for process control cannot always be used.
The control of processes has to take place at a molecular level; therefore use of modern Process Analytical Technology (PAT), e.g. using FT-NIR spectroscopy, is necessary. This allows for much greater production efficiency within many industries and production with a more constant quality.

FT-NIR spectroscopy is ideally suited for the direct monitoring of chemical reactions, as well as the quality assurance of intermediate and final products in chemical production plants. Modern analytical techniques can be used in all phases of production. Thus, it is possible to transmit information about single processes over long distances directly from a process tank or bypass using quartz fibre optics. The information can be evaluated at a distance from the process, away from extreme ambient conditions, such as high pressures or temperatures.

So that the information can be constantly evaluated in real time, immersion probes or measuring cells are used, which are designed to work reliably under extreme conditions. Different materials can be used for the immersion probes, depending on the chemical composition of the process. Many different materials are available, including various grades of stainless steel, robust Hastelloy alloys, or even extremely resistant tantalum.
The optical materials used in immersion probes and measuring cells can also be adapted to match the process. Quartz and sapphire excel by their ultra-high degree of precision. Sapphire, in particular, is frequently selected by customers because of its chemical resistance. The required immersion probe or measuring cell can be selected via a modular design principle and simply adapted to the individual process conditions prevailing on site.

Frequently used application areas for FT-NIR spectroscopy with immersion probes and measuring cells:
▪ Quality assurance: intermediates or final products are checked for purity, e.g. water content etc.
▪ Process monitoring: the material composition of intermediates and final products can be determined quantitatively
▪ Understanding of reactions: new processes can be monitored analytically in real time during the development phase
▪ Goods received inspections: delivered goods or products, for example, can be identified by their NIR spectra (fingerprint), in order to avoid faulty filling of storage tanks or material mix-ups
In addition to chemical production, these areas of application can also be found in the plastics and polymer industry, the food industry and many other industries.

A very frequent application in the pharmaceutical industry is the determination of the cloud point in the development of active substances for pharmaceuticals. In order to achieve the next phase of approval, active substances have to undergo various tests. An important test is the determination of the cloud point according to temperature. Normally, conventional turbidity measurements are used. As soon as a certain temperature is reached, the active substance begins to crystallise and the turbidity increases.
This is a constant process, in which the turbidity increases only gradually. It is very difficult to determine exactly at which temperature the cloud point is reached. By using an immersion probe coupled to a spectrophotometer it is possible to determine very exactly the temperature of the turbidity point in a simple and accurate way. At the very start of crystallisation, the absorption spectrum of the solution changes significantly. This abrupt and easily visible change in the optical spectrum allows very accurate monitoring of this process to be made.

Author
Hannes Ebding, Dipl.-Ing. (FH), Product Manager
Fibre optic systems at Hellma Analytics

Müllheim, June 2011. During manufacturing, wafers run through a number of chemical processes. Here, substances are used that are partially corrosive and hazardous for humans, e.g. hydrofluoric acid, nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrogen peroxide and many more. These substances are needed amongst others for specific cleaning processes in baths.

To be able to fulfil necessary high quality requirements when manufacturing solar panels, the particular baths have to be kept as stable as possible. Continuous monitoring of the bath composition is required for this and if necessary an adjustment to the composition. So far, this inspection has been carried out by manual sampling followed by a spectroscopic analysis.

Now a new option has emerged, measuring the composition of the ingredients with a fibre-optic probe. The significant advantage is fast online measurement of the parameters. This solution realized by Hellma Analytics makes complex sampling redundant. Besides the gain in speed, the process security is increased considerably because users are no longer endangered by exposure to corrosive liquids and the manufacturing process runs with a consistent high quality. Another advantage is the exact light path which guarantees measurement results that are optimally reproducible. Thus, frequent recalibration is no longer required. The probe is connected to the spectrophotometer via fibre optic cables so the concentration of the fluids can be tested in real time and adjusted quickly when necessary.

The special operating conditions in aggressive fluids present a major challenge to a standard probe’s material. In Hellma’s PTFE probe, the use of Teflon® (PTFE) as probe barrel material and the use of sapphire for optical components will guarantee consistency at any time. This is particularly interesting for manufacturers or users of etching baths as well as other producers using process analysis techniques.

On June 6th, after one year of planning, construction work for the annexe at Hellma Analytics has started. In recent years, the company has grown continuously and is in need of more space urgently. General planner for the additional building is Zeller | Eisenberg architects, who also realised the new entrance area in 2007. The new building will have a gross floor space of approx. 1,600 m2 and will house besides a new production line, our dispatch department. The amount invested will be € 4.8m and also includes the latest machinery, up-to-date environmental techniques as well as a special clean room area. “This annexe allows us to considerably improve the workflow in our manufacturing and logistics processes. Hence we will make ourselves fit to face the future and effectively invest in our global competitive capacity,“ says Lutz Mayer, Managing Director of Hellma Analytics. The architectural peculiarity is the utilities management centre which will be located above the middle of the building, a structure shaped like a trough. This will guarantee maximum flexibility with regard to the running of cables now and in years to come.

A simple use of shape combined with pure lines represents the building’s design concept. Few but high quality materials have been used. Thus the new structure blends in harmonically with the existing building. “Hellma products stand for precision and high tech; this is to be reflected in the building’s style,“ announced Holm Kändler, Hellma Analytics’ Technical Director and responsible project manager. The move into the newly built plant is scheduled in one year’s time. In 2012, Hellma Analytics will solemnise its 90th anniversary. This will be celebrated with an open day, where it will be possible to visit the premises.

Müllheim: The situation in Japan still remains serious. As recently as last Thursday, a new earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale hit the prefecture Miyagi badly. Thus the Hellma group with its headquarters in Müllheim Germany, donated 10,000 € to help the children there. “We are very shocked by the news from Japan” Lutz Mayer, President of the Hellma group says. “It is now particularly important to offer these children the necessary protection as well as a place of refuge.” The dimension of this disaster is devastating. According to the aid organisation “Save the Children” more than 11,000 people lost their lives. Since then, 240,000 Japanese have been living in emergency accommodations and evacuation centres – nearly half of them are children. Far more than 14,000 houses and more than 5,500 school buildings are completely destroyed or heavily damaged. The money from Hellma will support 19 child protection centres there directly. In special pup and play tents the children are being looked after by psychologists and teachers. Their aim is to give them back as much normality as possible. These child protection centres are operated by the internationally recognised aidorganisation “Save the Children”.

Müllheim, May 2011 The development of pharmaceutical ingredients requires extensive testing and evaluation. One crucial parameter is the exact determination of the cloud point, the temperature at which the ingredient starts to crystallize. In most cases, the cloud point occurs very abruptly, making this determination difficult. The downside of conventional measurement procedures is that an exact process monitoring cannot be performed in real time. This however can be solved through the use of a special mini process probe from Hellma Analytics that monitors the process online in combination with a spectrophotometer. Even as the first crystal forms there is a significant change of the absorption spectra making an exact determination of the cloud point guaranteed.
The mini process probe has removable light path tips with anti-twist protection, thus 100% reproducibility of the results is ensured. Handy dimensions as well as high-quality sealing components make this probe a robust and flexible solution.
This mini process probe has FSMA connections and is available with either UV or NIR optical fibres. A modular construction system enables the adaption to various customer requests, e.g. the optical measuring component can be produced from quartz or sapphire and different lengths are available.

Müllheim. To perform successful measurements, where the height of the cell aperture is restricted, e.g. with certain flow-through cells or with ultra micro cells, it is important that the centre height of the cell aperture and beam height of the spectrophotometer match.
However, not every user knows the centre height of their spectrophotometer by heart. Finding the correct centre height is often time-consuming. Now Hellma Analytics offers a useful online tool on its website where it is possible to find the correct centre height of more than 450 spectrophotometers. By selecting manufacturer and type/ model from the drop-down list, the appropriate result is displayed. The Hellma centre height finder can be found directly on the Hellma Analytics website www.hellma-analytics.com/chf or by searching on Google.

The economic crisis didn’t mean losses for every company. Hellma Analytics was able to position itself better on the market and in 2010 increased its turnover by even 5% compared to the record year 2008. In the middle of this difficult time, Hellma Analytics took over Schott Lithotec’s Calcium fluoride production in Jena, which the parent company Schott sold. The name has been changed to Hellma Materials and by now it is in the black again and more employees are being hired. Worldwide expansion is being pushed ahead actively and supported by the headquarters in Müllheim.

“We’ve taken this time of crisis consequently to position ourselves more broadly and to systematically improve our processes. In every crisis there is also an opportunity” Lutz Mayer, Managing Director of Hellma Analytics, says. Motivated employees play a major role here. Every company that had to release employees during the crisis notices now how important it is to keep qualified personnel even in less favourable times. Hellma Analytics could avoid terminations due to reduced working hours and flexible personnel. For 2011, it is planned to hire more staff, especially in the technical department.

Müllheim, September 2010
Clean cells are one of the most crucial requirements for correct measurements using spectrophotometers. It is therefore all the more important to remove contaminants and residues with a special cleaning solution designed for this purpose, like Hellmanex III concentrate. Its improved composition allows the ideal wetting of the surfaces, in particular when cleaning flow-through cells and cells with a complex geometry. Surfactants, adapted to the cleaning of glass, without absorption above 288 nm, and the significantly improved cleaning properties guarantee failure-free subsequent measurements. Using Hellmanex III regularly, considering the excellent suitability of materials, also increases the life cycle of cells and glass components demonstrably. The new Hellmanex III is available in 1 litre bottles at laboratory supply dealers from September.

In modern analysis, DNA samples are analysed in small amounts of drops. The valuable samples remain undiluted, are measured unaltered and can be used again afterwards. The necessary dilution is carried out optically by measurements with small light paths. For handling such micro volumes in an optical measurement, there are numerous system solutions. We recommend the Hellma TrayCell for users who are looking for a more cost-effective and more flexible solution. Patented accessories, with dimensions equivalent to a standard cell, fit into almost any spectrophotometer with a standard cell holder, and thus convert it into a system for drop analysis. Samples are simply pipetted onto the measuring window of the TrayCell, the required light path is adjusted with the cap. With the common light paths of 1 and 0.2 mm, a factor of 10 respectively 50 is achieved compared to previous procedures in 10mm cells. Thus, the user is able to increase his detectable concentration range of his measurement considerably.
It is now possible to cover even bigger concentration ranges simply and quickly. With the TrayCell caps factor 5 and 100 (light path 0.1 and 2 mm), available as of September, the detectable concentration range of a photometer can be expanded additionally.

Müllheim. From the beginning of August, Hellma in Müllheim operates in the market under the new name Hellma Analytics. Over the past few years, the Hellma Group with its companies has experienced a positive development – as recently as April this year, Hellma acquired Schott Lithotec’s Calcium Fluoride Production in Jena which continues its business as Hellma Materials. “This acquisition and the strategic orientation of our Müllheim location was the starting point for adapting our external presentation” Lutz Mayer, the Hellma Group’s Managing Director, comments. The strategic business areas are divided into the key segments Analytics, Optics and Materials. Hellma Analytics produces and markets the product lines cells, micro-volume-analysis, fibre-optical systems and UV/Vis calibration standards. Hellma Optics in Jena manufactures flat, cylindrical, toric and special optics and is the exclusive supplier for Schott’s range of optical glasses up to 20 kg, whereas Hellma Materials grows high-quality calcium fluoride crystals for applications in the laser industry.

As a combining element, the name Hellma is to continue to be a synonym for the group’s achievements and is to remain in its superior function for the Hellma Holding GmbH in Müllheim. For more information, please visit our website www.hellma.com or www.hellma-analytics.com.

Hellma, founded in 1922, is the world market leader for cells and optical components made of glass, quartz glass and calcium fluoride. It has its own subsidiaries in 13 countries and representatives in more than 50 countries. All over the world, more than 350 employees are working for Hellma.

With the take-over of the calcium fluoride production of Schott Lithotec in Jena (the leading manufacturer of calcium fluoride crystals), Hellma strengthens its position on the market and extends its product portfolio strategically. Schott Lithotec, established in 1998, specialises in optical materials, which are utilised in facilities producing microchips. In the now acquired industry at the Jena site, more than 40 employees will keep their jobs. High-tech calcium fluoride is used as a lens material in lithography, due to its high resistance to radiation and optical quality when exposed to laser.
The new company will operate under the name of Hellma Materials and will be incorporated into the Hellma Group on April 7th. Lutz Mayer, Managing Director of the Hellma Group, announces “With this new acquisition, we will push forward Hellma´s success story of over 85 years. Again in 2010, Hellma will continue to grow.” Since 1991, Hellma Optik Jena, manufacturer of optical components for laser and lithography applications, has been part of the Hellma group.
Hellma, founded in 1922, is the world market leader in manufacturing cells and optical components made of glass and quartz glass for modern analysis. It has its own subsidiaries in 14 countries as well as representatives in over 50 countries. All over the world more than 350 employees are working for Hellma.

Müllheim. It’s been exciting up to the very last minute. Would it be possible for the top cluster MicroTEC Südwest to score this time and be able to make its way to a top-position in the field of microsystems technology? At Hellma GmbH & Co.KG in Müllheim everyone was crossing their fingers because Hellma supported one of the cluster projects with its competence in technology in micro processing of glass and quartz. And it’s been worth the effort. At the end of January, the cluster won the excellence cluster competition of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, and thus ensured sponsorship of its technological projects through the Ministry. Even the federal state of Baden-Württemberg supports the infrastructural measures to strengthen the cluster and its management.
With microsystems technology it is possible to create new, innovative products and processes and thus be able to respond to urgent matters concerning the topics of the future: environmental protection, energy efficiency, resource conservation, sustainable development of mobility and individual transportation as well as securing healthcare. Using nature as a model, tiny pieces merge into systems that will have big effects: environmental-friendly cars, efficient machinery, accurate therapy etc. In the Germany- France- Switzerland- region, the cluster has excellent universities and research establishments, world market leaders like Hellma and other medium-sized companies. In winning the
contest, the companies involved will improve their position in the market of microsystems technology and thus be able to create qualified jobs. In 2008, Hellma has already been awarded at the Innovation Award of Baden-Württemberg for its outstanding innovation performance.

Links:
Hellma GmbH & Co. KG: www.hellma.com
The cluster MicroTEC Südwest: www.microtec-suedwest.de
Micro system technology Baden Württemberg e.V.: www.mstbw.de

It works in the background but very effectively. The fibre optical probe from Hellma is the analytical heart of Dausch Technologies’ innovative process analysis system for the beverage industry. The probe continuously measures several quality parameters including total acid, formula control, base detection, product profile and temperature.

This on-line process control allows manufacturing units to be run in an efficient way at minimum costs, gradually replacing the random and time-consuming quality control sampling in the laboratory. Moreover, controlling and documenting quality parameters has been simplified.
The technology requirements in the food industry are very high, for example, special features of the probe include a custom flange, compliant with the latest hygienic standards and materials of construction including stainless steel and sapphire optics.
To guarantee compatibility with cleaning processes, the probe meets the requirements of SIP/CIP (Sterilisation/Cleaning in Place)

Hellma is the world market leader and solution provider in cells and optical components made of glass or quartz, used for modern optical analysis. For more information please visit: www.hellma.com

Complete traceability and excellent reliability of measurement results  with calibration standards from the accredited DKD calibration laboratory of Hellma.

With the accreditation according to DIN EN ISO 17025, Hellma is one of the leading accredited calibration laboratory that produces and certifies liquid and glass calibration filters made for testing spectrophotometers.

Increased security and quality demands among laboratories more and more require a complete traceability of measurement results to a preferably international approved standard. An accreditation according to DIN EN ISO 17025 ensures the traceability of calibrations carried out to references of the NIST, by which an international correlation of measurement results is assured. Thus procedures in laboratories gain greater transparency and improved protection of their measurement results.

Hellma offers a wide product range of liquid and glass calibration filters and has been carrying out calibrations for several years. With the DKD´s accreditation, Hellma has received formal recognition for professional and technical competence. This is based on a modern and well maintained technical infrastructure, on the experience and capability of a highly skilled workforce as well as on a high effective quality management system. Accreditation according to DIN EN ISO 17025 ties smoothly in with the already existing quality management systems DIN EN ISO 9001 and 14001.

40-year-old Holm Kändler has been assigned the responsibility as Technical Director. He has also been granted single proxy.
After finishing his mechanical engineering studies at TU Berlin, Kändler started his career as a development engineer with a manufacturer for spectral photometers in Hamburg.
From 2003 to date, Holm Kändler was employed as Hellma´s Head of Development. Among other things, the TrayCell – a fibre-optic cell for spectral analysis of small sample volumes – awarded at the 2009 innovation award of the federal state of Baden-Württemberg, was developed during that time. Now, his main focus is the optimization and further development of the technical department in order to continue to expand Hellma´s top position.

“With our highly skilled workforce and our innovative technologies, we will provide sound know-how in glass machining with highest precision to our customers” says Holm Kändler. “Especially as a supplier of optical components, leading technology becomes the deciding competitive factor on the market. Both our customers and ourselves will profit from this.”

Kändler´s area of responsibility includes manufacturing, quality assurance, development, product management, technology management as well as the calibration laboratory.

The business areas of Hellma GmbH & Co KG, founded in 1922, include cells, fibre-optical systems, calibration standards, solutions for the analysis of small volumes as well as flat, cylinder and toric optics. Hellma sees itself as a solution provider for optical components made of glass and quartz glass for modern analysis. 290 employees are working at this strategy worldwide. Hellma has its own subsidiaries in 13 countries as well as representatives in over 50 countries. Substantial knowledge and one-of-a-kind technologies in glass and quartz glass processing support over 1,700 of Hellma´s standard products as well as special designs.

Manufacturers of optical technologies would like to, by means of the Light Alliance Initiative, draw attention to their industry. Together with Spectaris, the German industry association for optical, medical and mechatronical technologies, Hellma and ten other companies demonstrate the central role the technology sector is playing in German economy.
For third parties with no expert knowledge, the Light Alliance Initiative is to inspire and to bring optical technologies to life. Furthermore, this campaign’s aim is to point out job perspectives for qualified employees.

The Light Alliance was presented for the first time at the trade fair “LASER. World of Photonics” in Munich.

Visit us: www.lightalliance.de

The use of immersion probes in laboratories and the process industry implicates several benefits. Not only that UV/Vis measurements can be performed faster, safer and more cost- effective – but also it creates great synergies in process optimization. Hellma immersion probes are very efficient e.g. with automatic tablet dissolution tests. An immersion probe, especially designed for these tests, operates as an analysis element in cooperation with the RoboDis® system of Erweka®. A fully automated robotic arm, equipped with an immersion probe, serves several different vessels, which enables sequential UV/Vis measurements with high flexibility and throughput. This system profits by more than 15 years of experience in optimization and automation of processes in research and quality assurance laboratories. With close and successful collaboration of Erweka´s research and development department, a Hellma immersion probe with a custom-built conical measuring head minimizing the carry over effect has been designed. Modified fiber optic cables ensure quick maintenance and replacement. There are probes with five different optical path lengths available. Using immersion probes in combination with RoboDis® reduces specific disturbing sources of tablet dissolution tests, since fewer parts are required.

The system will be presented at the Achema 2009 in Frankfurt.

The Hellma Corporation was given credit for both design and development and the successful marketing of TrayCell at the 2008 innovation award of the federal state of Baden-Württemberg. Besides criteria of technical improvement and innovational achievement, the jury also evaluated the economic success as well as the distinctiveness of a company´s performance.

In this mixture of ratings, Hellma´s innovation for bioanalytics could clearly score among all 69 candidates and was awarded with this recognition.

This new Hellma transflexion probe has been designed specifically for straightforward installation in quick-change fittings. Change your
probe or sensor without interrupting the process.